Most Popular Wedding Dates for 2009

Though June happens to be the most popular month for weddings, and Saturdays are the most popular day of the week to get married; certain holidays are still very in demand as well. One of them is Valentine's Day.

In 2009, Valentine's Day happens to fall on a Saturday making it even more desirable.

Valentine's Day started as a Roman Pagan festival Lupercalia (for the god Lupercus) mid-February during the third century. Young Roman men would choose the name of a young Roman woman. The two would be sexual companions for the year.

The Christian Church changed this ritual in later years changing the women's names to Saints names that both genders were to emulate through the year. They chose St. Valentine to become the new "face" of the holiday. Valentine was beheaded by Emperor Claudius the Cruel for secretly marrying couples after the Emperor banned all weddings in order to keep his soldiers from being distracted. History says that Valentine, the Patron Saint of Love cured his love's blindness while incarcerated. His love also happened to be the daughter of his jailer.

In 1537, King Henry VIII declared February 14^th to be the holiday Valentines Day.

Where does Cupid fit into all of this? Remember that the holiday was originally Pagan. Cupid was the son of Venus the Goddess of Love.

Couples who get married on holidays need to keep in mind that many people already have plans of their own on these days. Also, flowers, locations, food and pretty much everything else will be more expensive. If these are things you can accept, start planning early!

Holidays can make your special day even more romantic.

Since 1994 the Empire State Building has held wedding ceremonies. Though they no longer hold private weddings or ceremonies, every year 14 specially chosen couples will be invited to recite their vows in the Empire State Building in New York City. Interested couples have to write a letter telling why they should win one of these 14 positions.

According to Frommer's, the 14 couples will receive free admission to the Empire State Building's observatories every year on their anniversary.

To be awoken by a kiss on Valentine's Day is supposed to be lucky. The lucky bride will have to wait for her first anniversary to see if this superstition works. It is said to be bad luck for the groom to see his bride before the wedding ceremony.